Confession: I am writing this article mostly for the benefit of folks who are staying at my home whilst I am off wandering the world (hurrah to the share economy). To the extent it helps others discover great cafes and restaurants in Coogee that are going the extra mile to deliver an elevated dining experience, that is a bonus!

What possesses us to leave behind a comfortable home and head off into the unknown? I am not referring to luxury travel or the sort of travel one does with organised tour companies either. Rather, I am talking about the self-directed, budget-conscious journeys that intrepid souls embark upon through distant lands. As adventurous as such a form of travel may sound, it is not without its trials.

Say there was an eternal afterlife – what would you choose to take to the other side? Your house? Car? Gourmet food and wine? That comfy sofa in the living room? Maybe some favourite clothes, jewellery, makeup and shoes? What about some underwear? Pharaohs packed all this and more. The reason we know this is because of the infamous discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the most complete and spectacular unplundered royal tomb discovered in the Valley of the Kings ...